Ramen Carbonara, #WeekdaySupper

Pre jumping-for-Katie-joy on Oprah’s couch, Tom Cruise shared a Carbonara recipe with the Queen of Talk Shows. The movie star was sharing with America the rewards of a nearly impossible mission - the Carbonara secrets of an Italian chef! I don’t recall Tom Cruise’s exact instructions. Except the part about pouring in lightly beaten raw eggs into hot noodles and letting the eggs scramble in a covered pan.

As Japanese ramen and soba are the most delicious noodles in the world, I created Ramen Carbonara for this week’s #WeekdaySupper. The rules of the group stipulate the meal must take under 30 minutes to make. (Check!) And have ingredients easily found in an American supermarket. (Check!) And be delicious. (Double check!) 



The Ninja Baker's Ramen Carbonara (Inspired by Tom Cruise!)


In Japan there are 22 variations plus on ramen noodles. Hokkaido, the Northern most island of Japan, favors their ramen noodles bathed in miso soup and butter. The Japanese of Kyushu in the south of Japan insist on broth made from pork bone. Tokyoites tend towards ramen made with a soy sauce soup.

Speaking of Tokyo, an hour’s train ride away from Japan’s capital will find you in Shin Yokohama: Home of the Shin Yokohama Raumen Museum. (I don’t know why they spell ramen as raumen. The Japanese characters read as ramen.) At any rate, at the museum, they serve mini bowls of ramen from all over Japan. So, one stroll around the Shin Yokohama museum will take you on delicious tour of Japanese ramen.



Ramen varies according to regions in Japan.


In the meantime, I hope you can enjoy my ramen noodles recipe inspired by a Hollywood movie star and Italian chef! This Tokyo-raised Ninja Baker gave the noodles a good dose of soy sauce. Simple soy sauce doused ramen noodles with peppery roasted zucchini is happiness for yours truly. However, if you’d like to add a stronger Italian accent, by all means manja, manja your Ramen Carbonara with melted cheese.

Ramen Carbonara

Japan meets Italy in simple but satisfying Ramen Carbonara. Soy sauce roasted Italian zucchini crown noodles kissed with olive oil. Crunchy bell pepper hearts and star cut-outs adds appeal for kids (of all ages!)

Ingredients: 
  • 1 large Italian zucchini
  • 1 large yellow zucchini
  • 3½ tablespoons soy sauce (for roasting the zucchini)
  • 1½ tablespoons soy sauce (for cooking the ramen noodles)
  • Dash of pepper
  • 2 packages (3½ ounces each) ramen noodles (without the soup packets)
  • 4 cups water
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • ¼ red pepper
  • ¼ orange pepper
  • 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
  • ½ - 1 cup of your favorite cheese, grated (optional)
Directions: 

Slice the zucchini into ¼” circles. Cut the circles in half. And cut in half again so you have little triangles. Place the cut zucchini onto a shallow pan lined with tin foil. Sprinkle 3½ tablespoons over the Italian and yellow zucchini. Add a dash of pepper to the veggies. Roast in a 400 degree oven for 12 minutes.

Ninja Note: Soy sauce packs a salty punch. Additional table salt is not recommended.

Dunk 2 packages of ramen noodles into 4 cups of boiling water spiked with 1½ tablespoons of soy sauce and 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Cook for about 5 minutes. Occasionally stir the noodles.

With a mini cookie cutter, cut out stars and hearts…Or season appropriate shapes such as ghosts, gobbling turkeys and Christmas / Chanukah shapes.

Drain the hot noodles. Do not rinse. Immediately place the hot noodles back into the pan. Pour in the lightly beaten eggs. (And grated cheese if desired.) Give a quick but gentle stir. Cover the pan for 7 to 10 minutes.

Remove the cover. Mix in the roasted zucchini with the soy sauce.
Divide into bowls and garnish with the pepper cutouts.

Makes 2 large and 4 modest servings. 

Here are a few more easy 'n delicious Asian fusion ramen recipes:

Sunday Supper Movement
Here's this week's #WeekdaySupper menu:

Monday - Orecchiette with Sausage and Broccoli Rabe (or Broccoli) by Confessions of a Culinary Diva
Tuesday - Ramen Carbonara by NinjaBaking.com
Wednesday - Caramelized Onion-Apple Meatballs with Herbs by Shockingly Delicious
Thursday - Spicy Pumpkin Coconut Soup by Mess Makes Food
Friday – Crockpot Chicken Fricassee by The Foodie Army Wife
 

Wishing you ease in all your endeavors.

The Ninja Baker

© ™ Watkinson 2012

The Ninja Baker has guest blogged and contributed recipes to numerous food sites. These additional recipes can be found here.

 

 

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